System and/or method for distributing media content

ABSTRACT

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to distribution of media content.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/742,466,filed on Apr. 30, 2007.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the distribution of mediacontent.

2. Information

Commercial broadcast programming on television or radio has typicallybeen financed through corporate sponsorship. For example, suchcommercial broadcast programming has typically been punctuated withadvertisement spots at the beginning, end or in the middle of aprogramming segment such as a television or radio show. Advancements incomputer technology and decreasing cost of computer components such asmemory have enabled widespread use of computer technology to obtainprerecorded broadcasts for playback through an audio visual system suchas a personal computer. For example, services such as iTunes and thelike have enabled users to download digital music and/or audio visualpresentations from the Internet for a user or subscription fee; otheronline services have enabled video-on-demand access to such programmingin a real-time environment for either a subscription or user fee or in afree-to-consumer advertisement supported environment. Also, videocassette recorders (VCRs) digital video recorders (DVRs) and relatedservices such as TiVo have enabled convenient recording of televisionbroadcasting for replay at a later time. Having features such as fastforward, however, these devices have enabled television viewers tobypass commercial advertisement segments during playback, therebyreducing the value of such advertisement segments to sponsors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will be described withreference to the following figures, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwisespecified.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system to distribute media content toa media device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is an appearance of a rendering application on a displayillustrating a timeline according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D show changes in an appearance of portions displayedin a timeline according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a process to enable access toprotected segments according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system to distribute media content toa media device according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process to distribute mediacontent to a media device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, theappearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or moreembodiments.

“Media content” as referred to herein relates to a signal and/or datacomprising information that is representative of environmental stimulisuch as sounds, visual images and/or other information. Here, the terms“media content,” “media content signal” and “media content data” shallbe used interchangeably throughout. In one particular embodiment, forexample, a media content signal may comprise signals which are encodedaccording to a predetermined format. For example, a media content signalmay comprise encoded signals that are representative of audio, video,text, still images and/or other data. However, these are merely examplesof a media content signal and claimed subject matter is not limited inthese respects.

According to an embodiment, media content may be encoded in a particularformat that enables one or more devices to “render” a “presentation”based, at least in part, on information encoded in such media content.Such a presentation may comprise, for example, images, sounds, otherperceivable environmental disturbances and/or combinations thereofgenerated based, at least in part, on information encoded in such amedia content signal. In some embodiments, media content may compriseinformation that may be used to render a presentation that is to bepassively experienced by a viewer or listener. However, media contentmay also comprise “interactive media content” in which a rendering of apresentation may depend upon, or be affected by, inputs from a userand/or participant. Such interactive media content may comprise, forexample, an interactive game or advertisement, just to provide a coupleof examples of interactive media content. However, these are merelyexamples of a presentation that may be rendered based, at least in part,on a media content signal and claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect.

According to an embodiment, a media content segment may be “contiguous”in that rendering a presentation based upon such a contiguous mediacontent segment provides a single contiguous presentation. Such a singlecontiguous presentation may comprise a presentation over a time periodwhere information presented over the time period is inter-related. Here,such information in a single contiguous presentation presented over atime period may be inter-related base upon, for example, a theme, commonproduction origin (e.g., an abstract aggregation of information in anews program), musical score, plot line, an event, a competitive matchor game. However, these are merely example of how information presentedover a time period in a single contiguous presentation may beinter-related, and claimed subject matter is not limited in theserespects.

A single contiguous presentation rendered from a contiguous mediacontent segment may comprise, for example, a single thirty-minuteepisode of a situation comedy as a broadcast television segment, asingle song played on broadcast radio, or a single full-length featuremovie. However, these are merely examples of single contiguouspresentations that may be rendered from a contiguous media contentsegment, and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects. Inthese particular examples, of a single contiguous presentation,information presented over a time period is inter-related as discussedabove. In contrast, a media content segment for rendering a presentationof a first sporting event, such as a basketball game, followed by asecond sporting event, such as a baseball game, may not provide such asingle contiguous presentation of related information. Here, such apresentation a basketball game in a first segment may not beinter-related with a presentation of a baseball game in a secondsegment.

Also, a media content segment may be “atomic” in that rendering apresentation based, at least in part, on a portion of the media contentless than the entire media content segment may not provide a completepresentation. In a particular example, a prerecording of four quartersof a collegiate football game may comprise an atomic media contentsegment. A rendering of a presentation based upon only the first threequarters, and not the fourth quarter, does not provide a completepresentation. In another example, a recording of a ninety-minutefull-length feature film may comprise an atomic media content segment inthat rendering a presentation for only the first sixty-minutes does notprovide a complete presentation. However, these are merely examples ofan atomic media content segment and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

In another example, a sixty-minute television broadcast media contentsegment may comprise a thirty-minute episode of a situation comedyfollowed by a thirty-minute news program. Here, while the sixty-minutetelevision broadcast segment may not be contiguous and atomic, thethirty-minute programs within the sixty-minute may each individuallycomprise contiguous and atomic media content segments. However, theseare merely examples of atomic and contiguous media content segments andclaimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

A “user” as referred to herein relates to an individual, device, serviceand/or entity comprising an identity and is capable of receiving and/oremploying a resource. In one particular embodiment, although claimedsubject matter is not limited in this respect, a user may comprise anindividual that is capable of interacting with applications hosted on acomputing platform. In another embodiment, a user may comprise anindividual that is capable of experiencing a presentation rendered frommedia content. However, these are merely examples of a user and claimedsubject matter is not limited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, a user may have or obtain “access” to aportion of media content to perform some particular function inconnection with the media content. In a particular embodiment, suchaccess may comprise an ability of a user to perform a particularfunction such as navigating, manipulating, editing, storing, receivingand/or transmitting media content, and/or rendering a presentationbased, at least in part, on the media content using a computingplatform, for example. However, these are merely examples of particularfunctions in connection with media content which may be associated withaccess given to a user and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect. Depending on the context, such access may be defined inconnection with a particular one or more of these functions, withoutregard to access in connection with other ones of these functions.Accordingly, a user may obtain “access” to media content by obtaining anability to render a presentation based, at least in part, on the mediacontent without necessarily having an ability to navigate and/or editthe media content. In another context, “to access” or “accessing” mediacontent may refer to an act performing one of the aforementionedparticular functions. However, these are merely examples of how a usermay access media content and claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect.

Broadcasters have distributed audio and visual content to audiences inthe United States over terrestrial radio frequency links for decadesand, more recently, over cable, wireless links and satellite links.Using such traditional distribution methods, broadcasters wouldtraditionally receive revenue from sponsors in exchange for providingadvertising for the sponsors on scheduled intervals during programming.In traditional television broadcasting, for example, commercial spotsmay be slotted throughout half-hour programming segments. Commercialspots are similarly scheduled throughout radio broadcasts.

The evolution of Internet technologies has enabled distribution ofdigital media content that had been reserved for distribution overtraditional broadcast channels such as commercial television and radio.In place of advertising revenue, some on-line content distributors suchas iTunes have established mechanisms whereby a user pays a fee for theability to access media content by, for example, downloading and storingthe media content to a storage device. The user may later play and/orrender presentations based on the stored media content. For example, auser may establish an account with an on-line distributor by providingcredit card information to be used in charging for downloading digitalmedia content from the distributor's website to be stored on a massstorage device accessible by the user for playing the downloaded mediacontent. Such methods, however, are cumbersome and awkward, relying on auser to provide personal credit card information to the on-line contentdistributor.

An alternative to having users pay for downloading media content mayinclude embedding audio and/or visual advertisements, which may or maynot be interactive, from sponsors at selected segments in downloadedmedia content. Accordingly, an on-line distributor may receiveadvertising revenue from sponsors in exchange for advertising spots onInternet Protocol (IP) or other network delivered media content. Giventhat such media content is typically in a digital form and easilymanipulated (e.g., using fast forward features on a digital media playeror digital editing), sponsors may not find such advertising spotsattractive or valuable since the on-line distributor can give little orno assurances that users would actually view and/or hear the advertisingspots.

According to an embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, media content obtained from the Internet maycomprise some segments that are desired for presentation by a user andother segments that are desired for presentation to the user by a mediacontent distributor and/or sponsor. Here, in a particular embodiment,presentation of and/or access to some media content segments desired bya user may be conditioned on a presentation of other media contentsegments to the user as desired by a distributor and/or sponsor.Accordingly, a media content distributor may assure a commercial sponsorthat individuals accessing certain media content are likely to beexposed to certain media content (e.g., advertising).

“Instructions” as referred to herein relate to expressions whichrepresent one or more logical operations. For example, instructions maybe “machine-readable” by being interpretable by a machine for executingone or more operations on one or more data objects. However, this ismerely an example of instructions and claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect. In another example, instructions as referred toherein may relate to encoded commands which are executable by aprocessing circuit having a command set which includes the encodedcommands. Such an instruction may be encoded in the form of a machinelanguage understood by the processing circuit. Again, these are merelyexamples of an instruction and claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect.

“Storage medium” as referred to herein relates to media capable ofmaintaining expressions which are perceivable by one or more machines.For example, a storage medium may comprise one or more storage devicesfor storing machine-readable instructions and/or information. Suchstorage devices may comprise any one of several media types including,for example, magnetic, optical or semiconductor storage media. However,these are merely examples of a storage medium and claimed subject matteris not limited in these respects.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout this specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“calculating,” “selecting,” “forming,” “enabling,” “inhibiting,”“rendering,” “downloading,” “identifying,” “initiating,” “querying,”“obtaining,” “hosting,” “maintaining,” “representing,” “modifying,”“receiving,” “transmitting,” “determining” and/or the like refer to theactions and/or processes that may be performed by a computing platform,such as a computer or a similar electronic computing device, thatmanipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical electronicand/or magnetic quantities and/or other physical quantities within thecomputing platform's processors, memories, registers, and/or otherinformation storage, transmission, reception and/or display devices.Such actions and/or processes may be executed by a computing platformunder the control of machine-readable instructions stored in a storagemedium. Further, unless specifically stated otherwise, process describedherein, with reference to flow diagrams or otherwise, may also beexecuted and/or controlled, in whole or in part, by such a computingplatform.

A “computer program” has referred to herein relates to an organized listof instructions that, when executed, causes a computing platform and/ormachine to behave in a predetermined and/or desired manner. Here, forexample, a computer program may comprise machine-readable instructionsthat are executable by a computing platform to perform one or moredesired tasks. In one particular embodiment, although claimed subjectmatter is not limited in these respects, a computer program may defineinputs and outputs such that execution of the program may provideoutputs based, at least in part, on the inputs. However, these aremerely examples of a computer program and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, a computer program may comprise one or more“software components” comprising instructions that are executable as anintegrated part of the computer program. Here, for example, computerprogram may comprise multiple software components that are individuallycreated to perform associated functions of the computer program. Thedifferent components may then be integrated together to provide afunctioning computer program. However, these are merely examples of acomputer program and claimed subject matter is not limited in theserespects.

An “application” as referred to herein relates to a computer program orgroup of computer programs capable of providing a desired result and/oraction. In a particular embodiment, for example, such an application maycomprise one or more computer programs that perform tasks in connectionwith providing a service and/or resource to a user. For example,although claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects, anapplication may comprise one or more end-user computer programs such asdatabase programs, spreadsheets, word processors, computer programs thatare accessible through a network browser, electronic mail, interactivegames, video and/or image processing programs, media presentationprograms, calendars, financial application software, inventory controlsystems and/or the like. However, these are merely examples of anapplication and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

In one particular embodiment, an application may comprise a “renderingapplication” that is capable of processing media content to render apresentation. For example, such a rendering application may be capableof rendering such a presentation on one or more output devices based, atleast in pail, on information extracted from media data such as encodedand/or compressed media content data. In another example, a renderingapplication may be adapted to control access to media content based, atleast in part, one or more conditions and/or events. However, these aremerely examples of a rendering application and claimed subject matter isnot limited in this respect.

A “Web application” as referred to herein relates to an applicationcomprising multiple software components that communicate with oneanother over an Internet Protocol (IP) infrastructure. In one particularembodiment, although claimed subject matter is not limited in theserespects, software components of a Web application may transmitdocuments among one another over an IP infrastructure in any one ofseveral standard formats including, for example, any one of severalmarkup languages. However, this is merely an example of a Webapplication and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

In one embodiment, a computing platform may comprise one or more“communication adapters” to enable communication between processesexecuting on the computing platform and a network. Such a communicationadapter may comprise a device capable of transmitting information toand/or receiving information from a communication channel and/or datalink. In one particular embodiment, for example, a communication adaptermay be capable of transmitting information to and/or receivinginformation from a data transmission medium according to a predefinedcommunication protocol. However, this is merely an example of acommunication adapter and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect.

According to an embodiment, a media content signal may compriseinformation that is temporally defined with reference to a presentationto a user or an audience. In a particular embodiment, for example, amedia content signal comprising a video component may comprisesequential frames which are temporally referenced to portions of a timevarying visual presentation. In another particular embodiment, a mediacontent signal comprising an audio component may comprise sequentialsegments that are temporally referenced to portions of an audiopresentation. However, these are merely examples of how a media contentsignal may comprise segments which are temporally referenced to portionsof a presentation and claimed subject matter is not limited in theserespects.

According to an embodiment, a content signal may be transmitted from asource to a destination by “streaming” the content signal whereby afirst temporally referenced portion of the content signal is used at amedia device to render a first portion of a presentation before asubsequent temporally referenced portion is completely transmittedand/or delivered to the media device for rendering a subsequent portionof the presentation. In a particular embodiment, for example, a mediadevice may display images of a leading portion of a streamed videosignal prior to receipt and/or delivery of a complete trailing portionof the video signal at the media device. Similarly, a media device maygenerate sounds based, at least in part, on a leading portion of astreamed audio signal prior to receipt and/or delivery of a trailingportion of the audio signal is being transmitted and/or delivered to themedia device. However, these are merely examples of how a content signalmay be streamed to a media device and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, media content may comprise one or more“protected media content segments” to which access by a user may becontrolled. Here, for example, a user's access to a protected mediacontent segment (e.g., to provide a particular function as illustratedabove) may be provided under a predefined condition and/or in responseto a particular event. Alternatively, such a user's access to aprotected media content segment may be inhibited in the absence of sucha predefined condition and/or event. However, these are merely examplesof a protected media content segment and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects. Hereinafter “protected segment” shall be usedinterchangeably with “protected media content segment.”

A “gating media content segment” as referred to herein relates to mediacontent that a user may access to gain access to a protected mediacontent segment. In one particular example, a user may access a gatingmedia content signal by, for example rendering a presentation based, atleast in part, on the gating media content segment. By rendering such apresentation based, at least in part, on such a gating media contentsegment, a user may gain access to an associated protected segment.Here, such a presentation rendered based, at least in part, on such agating media content segment may comprise an advertisement directed tothe user. In particular embodiments, a media content distributor mayestablish rendering a presentation of an advertisement from a gatingmedia content segment as a prerequisite to having access to anassociated protected segment. However, this is merely an example of agating media content segment and claimed subject matter is not limitedin these respects. Hereinafter “gating segment” shall be usedinterchangeably with “gating media content segment.”

An “agent” as referred to herein relates to a process that executes on afirst device and is capable of communicating with a second device over anetwork or independently of a network. In one particular embodiment, forexample, an agent process may collect information associated with thefirst device, a user of the device and/or program(s), and enabletransmission of the collected information to the second device. Inanother embodiment, an agent may receive information and/or controlsignals from the second device to take some action in connection withthe first device. However, these are merely examples of how an agent mayenable communication between devices and the claimed subject matter isnot limited in these respects.

Briefly, a portion of media content may be partitioned into segmentscomprising one or more protected segments. A user may be selectivelygiven access to at least one of the protected content media segments inresponse to accessing an associated gating segment. Alternatively, sucha user may be inhibited from obtaining access to the protected segmentuntil the associated gating media segment is accessed. However, theseare merely example embodiments and claimed subject matter is not limitedin these respects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 10 to distribute media contentto a media device 18 via a network 12. Network 12 may employ one or moredata transmission mediums such as, for example, cabling (e.g., fiberoptic, twisted wire pair, coaxial), satellite transmission links orwireless terrestrial wireless transmission links. However, these aremerely examples of transmission media that may be used for transmittinginformation in a network and claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect. Additionally, network 12 may employ one or morecommunication protocols for transmitting information between a sourceand a destination such as, for example, an Internet Protocol (IF),asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and/or communication protocols adaptedfor use on wireless transmission links. However, these are merelyexamples of communication protocols that may be used for transmittinginformation between a source and a destination in a network and claimedsubject matter is not limited in these respects. However, these aremerely examples of a network that may be used for distributing mediacontent to a media device and claimed subject matter is not limited inthese respects.

A server 14 may store media content data in memory (not shown) that maybe used by media device 18 for rendering presentation to a user (notshown). Such media content may comprise, for example, encoded versions(digitally or otherwise) of musical works, photographs, movies,electronic games, live and/or recorded video (e.g., live and/or recordedtelevision broadcasts), live and/or recorded audio (e.g., live and/orrecorded radio) on-line content (e.g., on-line radio and/or televisionbroadcasts) and/or the like. However, these are merely examples of mediacontent and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, media device 18 maycomprise a communication adapter (not shown), set-top box (not shown),modem (not shown) and/or other communication device to receive mediacontent data from one or more sources of a data transmission network(e.g., according to the aforementioned Internet Protocol). In otherembodiments, media device 18 may receive content data from other sourcessuch as, for example, physically insertable storage media such as aCD-ROM, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, USB flash device and/or the like.However, these are merely examples of how a media device may obtainmedia content data for use in rendering a presentation to a user andclaimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

Media device 18 may be capable of generating environmental stimuli suchas, for example, sounds and/or images in response to encodedinformation. For example, a media device 18 may be capable ofreproducing video images, music and/or other audio signals based, atleast in part, on data which is encoded according to a predeterminedencoding format. In one embodiment, media device 18 may comprise one ormore output devices such as, for example, a display (not shown) and/orspeaker (not shown) for generating environmental stimuli as part of apresentation to an audience and/or user. Alternatively, media device 18may not necessarily include such an output device but instead may becapable of being coupled to such an output device to provide one or moresignals for generating such environmental stimuli. However, these aremerely examples of a media device and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, media device 18 may comprise a computingplatform including, among other things, a central processing unit,system memory and a communication adapter capable of transmitting and/orreceiving information according to a communication protocol such as theaforementioned Internet Protocol. As such, media device 18 may becapable of hosting one or more processes by executing machine-readableinstructions stored in a storage medium such as a system memory. Mediadevice 18 may also host an operating system such as, for example,versions of Windows® sold by Microsoft Inc., versions of the Macintoshoperating system sold by Apple Computer, versions of the Linux operationsystem (e.g., for any embedded platforms), operating systems for handheld devices and/or game platforms (e.g., for Sony Playstation and/orthe like), or any other operating system that may be hosted on aplatform capable of receiving information via a communication adapter(e.g., according to the IP protocol) or removable storage media.However, these are merely examples of an operating system that may behosted on a media device and claimed subject matter is not limited inthese respects.

According to an embodiment, server 14 may similarly comprise a computingplatform including one or more communication adapters (not shown) totransmit information to and/or receive information from media device 18via a data transmission network and according to communication protocolsuch as the aforementioned Internet Protocol, for example. Server 14 mayalso comprise one or more memory devices (not shown) to store mediacontent data including, for example, one or more hard disk memorydevices, optical storage media, flash memory and/or the like. However,these are merely examples of devices that may be used as memory to storemedia content for distribution and claimed subject matter is not limitedin these respects. In an alternative embodiment, server 14 may comprisea dedicated network storage server (not shown) that is capable ofstreaming media content data to devices coupled to a network. However,this is merely another example of a server that is capable of providingmedia content data to other devices connected to a network and claimedsubject matter is not limited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, server 14 may store media content in any oneof several digitally encoded formats such as, for example, versions ofGIF, TIFF, JPEG, JPEG2000, BMP, PNG, MPEG1/2/4, WMV, H.263, H.264, VC-1,DivX, Xvid, Real Video, Nero Digital, On2, VP6, VP7 and QuickTime and/orthe like. It should also be understood that server 14 may store suchmedia content in yet to be developed encoding formats. However, theseare merely examples of how content data may be stored and/or formattedaccording to particular embodiments and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

Media device 18 may comprise any one of several media devices such as,for example, a portable music player such as an MP3 player, gameplatform, television, set-top box, display, personal computer, portablemedia players, hand held device, wireless communication device such as amobile telephone or personal digital assistant, and/or any other type ofdevice capable of rendering a presentation to a user based, at least inpart, on media content. Alternatively, as illustrated above, mediadevice 18 may render such a presentation, based at least in part on themedia content through one or more output devices coupled to the mediadevice 18 (such as a display and/or speakers). Accordingly, media device18 may be capable of rendering a presentation from media content in oneor more of the aforementioned digitally encoded formats. However, theseare merely examples of a media device and claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects.

According to an embodiment, media device 18 may comprise a computingplatform to host one or more applications including a renderingapplication. Such a computing platform may comprise any one of a varietyof user interfaces such as, for example, a graphical user interfaceresponsive to user inputs from a pointing device (e.g., mouse, trackballor joystick), thumbwheel, remote control and/or console inputs, voiceactivation system, touchscreen, for example. Also, media device 18 mayhost a web browser that is capable of communicating with server 14according to a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). However, these aremerely examples of how a computing platform may provide a media deviceaccording to particular embodiments and claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect.

According to an embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, media device 18 may host an agent that iscapable of communicating with server 14 to, among other things, controland/or affect rendering of a presentation to a user from media contentobtained from server 14. In a particular embodiment, such an agent maycomprise a rendering application which is supported by and/or accessiblethrough a web browser hosted by media device 18. Here, for example, suchan agent may be launched to media device 18 from machine-readableinstructions received from server 14 in response to user selectionsreceived at a web browser by, for example, a selection of a UniversalResource Locator (URL). In alternative embodiments, however, a mediadevice 18 may host a rendering application to control and/or affectrendering of a presentation to a user independently of a web browser.Here, for example, such a rendering application may enable a user torender a presentation based upon media content (e.g., streamed fromserver 14 or downloaded and stored) independently of whether a webbrowser on media device 18 is in communication with server 14. Asillustrated below according to one particular embodiment, althoughclaimed subject matter is not limited in this respect, a renderingapplication may conditionally enable a user to access certain portionsof media content comprising protected segments.

According to an embodiment, media device 18 may receive media contentwhich is partitioned into a plurality of protected segments. In oneparticular embodiment, although claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect, media device 18 may receive such media content from server14 over network 12 as illustrated above. Alternatively, again asillustrated above, media device 18 may receive such media content from astorage device coupled to and/or inserted into media device 18. Again,these are merely examples of how a media device may receive mediacontent for rendering a presentation to a user and claimed subjectmatter is not limited in these respects.

In one embodiment, a rendering application hosted on media device 18 mayprovide a display 110 as shown in FIG. 2A. In particular embodiments,although claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect, such arendering application may receive user inputs from a graphical userinterface (GUI) supported by a computing platform. Here, for example, auser may make inputs by activating a pointing device (e.g., mouse,trackball, joystick, thumbwheel, remote control, game peripheral) tomove a cursor over items shown in display 110 and “clicking” to makeselections. Such a GUI may also receive text inputs from a keyboard (notshown) and/or voice activated commands from a microphone (not shown)independently or in combination with inputs provided through a pointingdevice. However, these are merely examples of how a renderingapplication may receive user inputs and claimed subject matters is notlimited in this respect.

In the illustrated embodiment, display 110 may show a play button 114,pause button 116, stop button 132, fast forward button 120 and rewindbutton 122. Selecting one of these items in display 110, with a pointingdevice for example, may initiate the described or designated action inthe hosted rendering application. A title 124 may indicate a contentselection that is playing or is ready to play. Image portion 134 may beused for rendering still or moving images. A timeline graphic 112, in aparticular embodiment, may illustrate a temporal state of the renderingapplication relative to media content from a beginning 128 to an end130.

While an associated rendering application is in a “play” state, inresponse to selection of play button 114 for example, timeline graphic112 may provide a linear scale to represent a temporal progression of arendering of a presentation from media content where an indicator 126may indicate where within the temporal progression the renderingapplication is currently playing (or positioned to play in a pausedstate, for example). While the rendering application is in the playstate, indicator 126 may move along timeline graphic 112 toward end 130as a presentation is being rendered until indicator 126 reaches end 130,or the user selects the pause button 116 or stop button 132. With orwithout playing media content, a user may select fast forward button tomove indicator 126 away from beginning 128 and toward end 130, or selectthe rewind button 122 to move indicator 126 toward beginning 128 andaway from end 130. Alternatively, a user may move indicator 126 byclicking on and dragging indicator 126 along timeline graphic 112.Following such movement of indicator 126 along timeline graphic 112, therendering application may commence playing media content at a point in atemporal position as indicated by the position of the moved indictor 126relative to timeline graphic 112.

According to an embodiment, media content represented by timelinegraphic 112 may be partitioned into a plurality of protected segments.According to a particular embodiment, a user may first access a gatingsegment associated with a protected segment to gain access to theprotected segment. Here, for example, such access to a gating segmentmay be established as a prerequisite for access to the protectedsegment. Such access to the gating segment may comprise, for example,rendering a presentation to a user (e.g. paid advertisement) based, atleast in part, on the gating segment. As shown in FIG. 2A, mediacontent, as represented by timeline graphic 112, is partitioned into aplurality of sequential protected segments 102 which are preceded byassociated gating segments 104. Here, such protected segments 102 aresequentially and/or temporally interleaved with gating segments 104.Such media content may comprise, for example, content data that arendering application may use to render as a sequential and time varyingpresentation such as an audio presentation, video presentation orcombination of audio and video presentation which is encoded accordingto any one of the aforementioned encoding formats. For example,protected segment 102 _(a) may represent a portion of a presentationthat precedes a presentation of protected segment 102 _(b). Likewise,protected segment 102 _(b) may represent a portion of a presentationthat precedes a presentation of protected segment 102 _(c). Accordingly,in a temporal progression associated with media content represented bytimeline graphic 112, from left to right protected segment 102 _(a)precedes protected segment 102 _(b), and protected segment 102 _(b)precedes protected segment 102.

According to a particular embodiment, although claimed subject matter isnot limited in this respect, protected segments 102 may be selected froma contiguous and/or atomic media segment. As such, protected segments102 may comprise different portions of the same presentation such as,for example, a complete episode of a television situation comedy, acomplete news program, complete sporting event and/or the like. Whileprotected segments 102 may be selected from the same contiguous mediasegment, it should be understood that not all portions of such acontiguous media segment are necessarily included in a protected segment102. Here, for example, some portions of such a contiguous media segmentmay remain unprotected and be accessible to a user without firstaccessing a gating segment.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, protected segments102 are preceded by associated gating segments 104. Here, a user mayaccess a protected segment 102 after first accessing its associatedgating segment 104 by, for example, rendering a presentation based, atleast in part, on the associated gating segment 104. In a particularexample, although claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect,protected segments 102 may comprise portions of an episode ofpre-recorded television programming and gating segments 104 may compriseadvertisement provided by paid sponsors. Continuing with the particularexample, such a rendering of the associated gating segment 104 maycomprise presentation of a commercial advertisement. Without a userfirst accessing the associated gating segment 104, the renderingapplication may not enable the user to access the associated protectedmedia segment 102 for presentation of an associated portion of theepisode or content. To search, navigate, manipulate, use and/orotherwise access a protected segment 102 for rendering a presentation,for example, a user may first render a presentation based, at least inpart, on an associated gating segment 104.

According to an embodiment, a rendering application may enable a user tore-access a protected segment 102 following an initial access to anassociated gating segment 104 without accessing the gating segment 104 asecond time. For example, following a presentation of a protectedsegment 102, a user may reposition indicator 126 (e.g., by selecting therewind button 122 or clicking on and dragging indicator 126 asillustrated above) at the beginning or the middle of protected segment102 and commence playing, without rendering a presentation from anassociated gating segment 104 for a second time.

In alternative embodiments, it may be desired to have a user presentedwith media content rendered from a gating segment 104 more than oncebefore the user is given unconditional access to an associated protectedsegment 102. Here, for example, a user may access a protected segment102 a first time following rendering a presentation based, at least inpart, on an associated gating segment 104. To access the protectedsegment 102 a second time, however, the user may be required to againrender the presentation based, at least in part, on the gating segment104. This requirement may continue for subsequent accesses to protectedsegment 102 until the user has rendered a presentation based, at leastin part, on the associated gating segment 104 a set number of times.After having rendered the associated gating segment 104 the set numberof times, the user may be given unconditional access to the protectedsegment 102. Again, however, this is merely an alternative embodimentand claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

According to a particular embodiment, although claimed subject matter isnot limited in this respect, segments of timeline graphic 112 in display110 may visually represent characteristics of media content which aretemporally associated with the segments of timeline graphic 112. Forexample, and as illustrated below with reference to FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D,a rendering application may visually distinguish between protectedsegments 102 and gating segments 104 in timeline graphic 112 by, forexample, providing color, hatching or other patterns, shading, blinking,markers, text, icons or images to name just a few ways that a renderingapplication may visually distinguish between segments in a timeline fromone another.

While embodiments illustrated above may visually distinguish betweengating segments and protected segments, in alternative embodiments arendering application may not particularly visually set out ordistinguish between gating segments and protected segments in atimeline. Here, for example, a user may access gating segments, asneeded, to gain access to associated protected segments.

In one particular embodiment, a visual appearance of a gating segment104 and/or an associated protected segment 102 in timeline graphic 112may change following use of the gating segment 104 to render apresentation to a user, for example. In a particular embodiment shown inFIG. 2B, protected segments 102 appear clear while gating segments 104appear solid. Here, the solid appearance of gating segments 104 mayindicate that gating segments 104 have not been used to render apresentation to a user and the clear appearance of protected segments102 may indicate that they are “locked” or inaccessible by the user. Bycommencing playing at beginning 128, for example, a renderingapplication may render a presentation based, at least in part, on gatingsegment 104 _(a) as indicator 126 moves toward end 130. The renderingapplication may then commence rendering a presentation based, at leastin part, on unlocked protected segment 102 _(a).

As shown at FIG. 2C, an appearance of protected segment 102 _(a) maychange as shown by cross-hatching to indicate that protected segment 102_(a) is unlocked and is accessible to the user. In this particularembodiment, although claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect, gating segment 104 _(a) disappears or is absorbed into theunlocked protected segment 102 _(a). However, this is merely an exampleof how a rendering application may visually indicate that a gatingsegment has been used to render a presentation or has otherwise beenaccessed, and claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Inother embodiments, for example, a rendering application may merelycontinue to show such a gating segment that has been accessed in atimeline (e.g., as being distinct from an associated protected segment),but with a visual appearance that is distinguished from a visualappearance of gating segments which have not been accessed. This changein appearance of gating segment 104 _(a) and/or protected 102 _(a) asshown in FIG. 2B to FIG. 2C may indicate to the user, for example, thatprotected segment 102 _(a) may be re-accessed (e.g., to be replayed)without rendering a presentation from the gating segment 104 _(a) for asecond time as illustrated above. As illustrated above according to analternative embodiment, subsequent unconditional access to a protectedsegment may require a set number of two or more accesses to anassociated gating segment. Here, a visual appearance of such a protectedsegment and/or gating segment may change following such a set number ofaccesses to the gating segment,

As illustrated in FIG. 2D, following a rendering of a presentationbased, at least in part, on gating segment 104 _(a), a user may skipover gating segment 104 _(b) and associated protected segment 102 _(b)to access gating segment 104, by, for example, clicking on and draggingindicator 126 and/or fast forwarding, without first accessing gatingsegment 104 _(b) to unlock protected segment 102 _(b). Here, protectedsegment 102, is shown as unlocked (cross-hatched) and protected segment102 _(b) is shown as still locked (clear). To subsequently access lockedprotected segment 102 _(b), a user may reposition indicator 126 torender a presentation based, at least in part, on gating segment 104_(b) to unlock protected segment 102 _(b).

While FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D show changes in visual appearances ofprotected segments 102 from clear to cross-hatching, and gating segments104 from solid to combined with associated protected segments 102, itshould be understood that other embodiments may implement differenttypes of changes in visual appearance of segments in a timeline. Forexample, such a change in visual appearance of a gating segment 104and/or protected segment 102 may comprise, for example, a change incolor, shading, blinking, brightness, hatching or other patterns, justto name a few visual characteristics that may change to distinguishbetween protected segments which are locked versus unlocked, or betweengating segments which have be accessed versus gating segments which havenot been accessed.

Referring again to FIG. 2A in a particular embodiment, a renderingapplication may provide a user with additional information regarding aparticular segment in timeline graphic 112 which is descriptive of thecontent in the particular segment. For example, a rendering applicationmay provide an overlaid text message on display 110 or an audio messagedescriptive of content in a segment in timeline graphic 112 in responseto a positioning of a cursor in display 110 over or near the segment. Ina particular example where protected segments 102 in timeline graphic112 are associated with a pre-recorded television episode, such amessage may describe the contents of the particular protected segment102 (e.g., “this is where Jack and Locke open the hatch”). Similarly,where gating segments 104 in timeline graphic 112 are associated withadvertisements, such a message may describe the product and/or servicethat is being advertised in a particular gating segment 104. However,these are merely examples of messages that a rendering application mayprovide in connection with the contents of segments in a timeline andclaimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

While media content in the example illustrated above comprisespre-recorded television programming, it should be understood that thismerely one example of media content that may be partitioned into aplurality of protected segments. Other examples may include pre-recordedevents, radio broadcasts, audio or video content (including repurposedtelevision and/or radio content and original content developedspecifically for distribution over system 10) songs or other musicalworks, just to name a few. Again, these are merely examples of mediacontent and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.Also, the particular example above gating segments 104 comprisedcommercial advertisements. It should be understood, however, that gatingsegments may comprise any other types of content such as, for examplegames, puzzles, surveys, questionnaires, polls, riddles, triviaquestions, authentication and/or authorization queries, requests forpayment, just to name a few types of content that may be used as agating segment. Again, these are merely examples of gating segments thatmay be used to render a presentation for obtaining access to protectedsegments, and claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

According to an embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, a user may be given access to protectedsegments according to a process 200 shown in FIG. 3. Here, or example,process 200 may be executed, at least in part, by an agent and/orrendering application hosted on a media device to control and/or affectrendering of a presentation to a user as illustrated above. In theparticularly illustrated embodiment, segments of media content may besequentially accessed and/or rendered for presentation to a user (e.g.,on a media device as discussed above) as represented by timeline graphic112 as illustrated above, for example.

Segments of media content, such as segments represented by protectedsegments 102 and gating segment 104 in timeline graphic 112, may beassociated with a memory address, unique identifier and/or URL. In otherembodiments, such segments may be associated with metadata stored ormaintained in session memory such as, for example, session memorymaintained by a rendering application hosted on media device and/orsession memory maintained by a server transmitting media content to themedia device. Generally, metadata may comprise information that isdescriptive of data. In particular examples, metadata may compriseinformation characteristic of the content, quality, condition,availability, location and other characteristics of data. It should beunderstood, however, that these are merely examples of metadata andclaimed subject matter is not limited in this respect. Also, it shouldbe understood such use of metadata is merely an example of how arendering application may identify a segment of media content, andclaimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

Process 200 may start at 202, for example, in response to a userselecting start button 122 in a GUI, for example. Block 204 may identifya current position or location in time of a media content segment. Sucha current position or location in time may be linearly associated with alocation of indicator 126 in timeline graphic 112 (e.g., which may be atthe beginning of timeline graphic 112, the end of timeline graphic 112or somewhere in between). Accordingly, such a current position orlocation may lie within a particular segment referenced by a timeline(e.g., a protected segment or gating segment). Based upon an identifierassociated with the current media content segment, for example, diamond206 may determine whether the current media content segment is aprotected segment.

As pointed out above according to a particular embodiment, protectedsegments may be selected from a contiguous and/or atomic media contentsegment. As such, protected segments detected at diamond 206 maycomprise different portions of the same presentation. Again, while suchprotected segments may be selected from the same contiguous mediasegment, it should be understood that not all portions of such acontiguous media segment are necessarily included in a protected segmentto control access by a user. Accordingly, some media content segments aspart of a contiguous media content segment may be neither a gatingsegment nor a protected segment.

If the current media content segment is not a protected segment, a usermay be free to access the segment without any special conditions.Otherwise, if the current media content segment is protected, diamond208 may determine requirements to access the protected segment have beenmet. As illustrated above in a particular example, such an accessrequirement may be met if a rendering application had already accessedan associated gating segment one or a set number of times, or if such anassociated gating segment had been accessed prior to access of anassociated protected segment. If such access requirements have been met,block 212 may provide a user with access to the current, protectedsegment by, for example, rendering a presentation based, at least inpart, on the protected segment. Otherwise, block 210 may perform analternative action.

Referring again to the particular examples of FIGS. 2A through 2D, if acurrent media content is a protected segment 102, for example, diamond208 may determine whether an associated gating segment 104 has been usedto render a presentation, such as an advertisement, to the user. If thegating segment 104 has been rendered, block 212 may provide a user withaccess to the current protected segment 102. However, this is merely anexample of how a process may provide a user with access to a protectedsegment based, at least in part, on whether an associated gating segmenthas been accessed, and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect.

In alternative embodiments, process 200 may employ any one of severalcriteria for determining whether a user's access requirement has beenmet at block 208. In one particular embodiment, such a requirement maycomprise accessing particular gating content for a set or predefinedrequired duration. Referring again to the particular examples of FIGS.2A through 2D, such an access requirement may comprise viewing a stillbanner advertisement, interacting with an interactive videopresentation, playing interactive game or puzzle and/or accessing othercontent relating to associated protected media content and/or the likefor a desired, set or predefined required duration such as, for example,30, 45 or 60 seconds. As illustrated below, such a desired, set orpredefined required duration may be varied and determined and/or setbased, at least in part on information associated with the user and/orthe subject matter of an associated protected segment, for example.

Also, block 212 may provide a user with access to a protected mediasegment in any one of several forms. In one particular example, block212 may provide access by automatically presenting and/or rendering anassociated protected media segment in response to a user meeting anaccess requirement at diamond 208 and without any additional activityand/or inputs from the user. Referring again to the particular examplesof FIGS. 2A through 2D, for example, in response to a user rendering agating segment 104, block 212 may automatically commence renderingand/or presenting the current protected segment 102 without receivinginputs from a user via a GUI or otherwise. In other words, if an accessrequirement at diamond 208 comprises accessing a gating segment for apredefined duration, block 212 may automatically render and/or presentan associated protected segment in response to a user completing accessof the gating segment for the predefined duration.

In an alternative implementation, while block 212 may enable a user toaccess a protected segment in response to a user meeting an accessrequirement at diamond 208, actual access to the protected segment maysubsequently occur in response to an additional action taken by theuser. For example, after a user meets an access requirement at diamond208, block 212 may continue to present and/or render gating contentuntil the user makes a selection to access an associated protectedsegment. Referring again to the particular examples of FIGS. 2A through2D, following a user meeting a requirement to access a gating segment104, block 212 may display an icon in a GUI with a message saying “clickto continue.” Here, following meeting an access requirement at diamond208, a user may initiate access to an associated protected segment 102(e.g., by presenting and/or rendering the protected segment 102) by, forexample, manipulating a pointing device to move a cursor to click on theicon or other portion of the GUI display image, operation of a remotecontrol device (e.g., to a television, set-top box and/or homeentertainment system) or console, turning thumbwheel, touching amechanical sensor, and/or initiating a voice activated command.

In a particular embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, until a user makes a selection to access aprotected segment following meeting an access requirement at diamond208, process 200 may continue to present gating content to the user.Referring to the example illustrated above, gating content of a gatingsegment 104 may comprise, again for example, a still banneradvertisement, video presentation, interactive game or puzzle and/orother content relating to associated protected media content and/or thelike that may continue to be rendered until a user selects a displayicon saying “click to continue.” Alternatively, where a gating segment104 comprises motion video and/or audio, process 200 may merely replaysuch gating content after an access requirement is met at diamond 208and until a user acts to initiate presentation of an associatedprotected segment 102. For gating content comprising a short audio ormoving video clip, for example, process 200 may commence replaying theclip if an initial play of the clip ends before a user makes a selectionto access an associated protected segment. Alternatively, instead ofreplaying the clip upon termination of an initial play of the clip,process 200 may commence playing additional, different content such asan advertisement, game, puzzle, other interleaved content and/or thelike. For example, such other interleaved content may comprise contentrelating to associated protected content. In one particularimplementation such content relating to associated protected content maycomprise, for example, a short behind the scenes video presentation, apreview for a future episode of television content (e.g., associatedwith a protected segment), a segment of a completely different episodeof television content, or a preview and/or segment of an entirelydifferent show.

As pointed out above, gating content, such as gating content of a gatingsegment 104, may comprise interactive content such as an interactivegame having a state that is affected by user inputs. As illustratedabove in a particular embodiment, process 200 may require that a useraccess such gating content for a set or predefined duration as aprecondition for accessing an associated protected segment 102.According to a particular embodiment, process 200 may continue accessingsuch gating content while an application continues to receive inputsfrom a user (e.g., keystrokes, cursor movements, audio commands) evenafter a set or predefined required duration expires. Following suchexpiration of the set or predefined required duration, for example,process 200 may then commence accessing the associated protected segment102 upon detecting an absence of user inputs for accessing the gatingcontent. Such an absence may comprise, for example, an absence of inputsfor a set duration following a last input received.

Upon completion of rendering a presentation of the current media contentsegment as determined at diamond 214, block 220 may identify a nextmedia content segment (e.g., in a timeline such as timeline 110) ifthere are any remaining media content segments. Otherwise, process 200may terminate at 218.

According to an embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, an alternative action at block 210 may compriseany one of several alternatives to enabling a user to access a protectedsegment such as, for example, rendering a presentation of differentmedia content, rendering an incomplete presentation from the protectedsegment and/or the like. Referring to the example of FIG. 2A, in aparticular embodiment where a protected segment comprises a video andaudio component such as in a pre-recorded television broadcast, such analternative action may comprise displaying a still banner in imageportion 134 with a message indicating that viewing a preceding gatingsegment is required prior to accessing the current protected segment orgiving a written summary description of the protected segment (e.g.,“this is where you see Jack and Locke open the latch”). Such a writtenmessage may be accompanied by an audio narrative, for example. Inanother embodiment, alternative action at block 210 may comprisedisplaying such a still banner with an audio portion of the protectedsegment (i.e., without the video portion). In another embodiment,alternative action at block 210 may comprise providing an introductionor teaser segment for the protected segment. It should be understood,however, that these are merely examples of actions that may bealternatives to enabling access to a protected segment in the absence ofa prerequisite access to an associated gating segment, and claimedsubject matter is not limited in these respects.

In one embodiment, protected segments may be encrypted according to anencryption key. Here, for example, a rendering application may be givenaccess to such a protected segment at block 212 by obtaining a key todecrypt a protected segment upon rendering a presentation to a userbased, at least in part, on an associated gating segment. For example,such an encryption key may be embedded in the gating segment andextracted by the application upon rendering a presentation based, atleast in part, on the gating segment. Alternatively, a renderingapplication may transmit a message (e.g., to a server on a network),indicating completion of rendering the presentation based, at least inpart, on the gating media content signal to receive such an encryptionkey. However, these are merely examples of how an application may obtainan encryption key to gain access a protected segment and claimed subjectmatter is not limited in this respect.

In another embodiment, protected segments may be streamed to a renderingapplication (e.g., from a remote server over a network). Here, forexample, a rendering application (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 3) maymaintain a record of which gating segments have been used to render apresentation to a user. Accordingly, block 212 may initiate delivery ofa protected segment from a remote server to the application by, forexample, transmitting a message to the remote server over a datacommunications network as illustrated below with reference to FIG. 4 ifthe application determines that the user has met an access requirementat diamond 208 by, for example, rendering a presentation of anassociated gating segment.

In system 300, for example, a media device 318 may be enabled to receiveprotected segments as streamed media content from a stream contentserver 320 in response to an indication that an associated gatingsegment has been used to render a presentation to a user. In thisparticular embodiment, media device 318 may interact with an applicationserver 314, advertisement server 316 and stream content server 320 overa data transmission network such as network 312, for example. In oneembodiment, as illustrated by process 400 of FIG. 5, media device 318may comprise a computing platform and launch a web browser at block 402.However, this is merely an example of a media device according to aparticular embodiment and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect.

In one embodiment, application server 314, advertisement sever 316 andstream content server 320 may reside on separate computing platformsthat communicate with network 312. While application server 314,advertisement sever 316 and stream content server 320 are shown asseparate units, it should be understood that such servers may reside onthe same or co-located computing platforms. According to an embodiment,Also, in a particular embodiment, application server 314, advertisementserver 316 and stream content server 320 may individually orcollectively comprise “services” for providing information to mediadevice 318 and to one another. Also, applications hosted on media device318, application server 314, advertisement server 316 and stream contentserver 320 may be integrated by one or more “web services” using anInternet protocol (IP) infrastructure. In particular examples of a webservice, although claimed subject matter is not limited in theserespects, standard protocols may be employed to transmit data objectsamong components over an Internet protocol such as, for example, HTTP,HTTPS, XML, SOAP, WSDL and/or UDDI standards. Here, XML may be used totag data objects, SOAP may be used to transfer data objects, WSDL may beused to describe available services and UDDI may be used to listavailable services. However, these are merely examples of protocols thatmay enable a web service and claimed subject matter is not limited inthese respects. In one particular embodiment, although claimed subjectmatter is not limited in these respects, such a web service may allowindependently created and implemented applications from differentnetwork sources to communicate with one another.

By locating an address associated with application server 314, such as aURL, a user may contact application server 314 at block 404. In responseto such a contact from the user, for example, application server 314 mayprovide machine-readable instructions to media device 318. Suchmachine-readable instructions may be executable on media device 318,enabling media device 318 to host a rendering application. Such arendering application may control and/or affect rendering of apresentation to a user from protected segments that may be obtained fromstream content server 320. As illustrated above, such a renderingapplication may be supported by and/or accessed through the launched webbrowser. Again, however, this is merely an example of how a media devicemay host an application to communicate with other processes on a networkand claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

By providing a rendering application from application server 314, anentity owning and/or operating application server 314 may control accessto media content through the rendering application by, for example,implementing rules and policies governing when and how users may accessmedia content, and which media content a user may access. Also, asillustrated below according to particular embodiments, by providing arendering application, the entity owning and/or operating applicationserver 314 may implement a system to obtain revenue from a separateentity owning and/or operating advertisement server 316.

Furthermore, an entity owning and/or operating application server 314may pay a fee to a separate entity owning and/or operator stream contentserver 320 in exchange for delivery of media content to a renderingapplication hosted on media device 318. Alternatively, the entity owningand/or operating application server may pay such a fee to a partyholding copyrights to media content delivered to such a renderingapplication hosted on media device 318.

In addition to launching an application received from application server314, media device 318 may receive a catalog of selectable media contentitems which are accessible through the rendering application hosted onmedia device 318. Such a catalog may provide, for example, a listing ofitems displayed on a web browser associated with links which may beselected for access to media content associated with the listed items.In addition, media device 318 may receive a “timeline profile” fromapplication server 314 comprising metadata regarding protected segmentsselected from particular catalog items, and gating segments to beassociated with such protected segments. Here, for example, suchmetadata may identify particular segments in a catalog item such as, forexample, a temporal ordering of such segments in an associated timeline(e.g., as displayed), identify which segments are protected segments andwhich segments comprise gating segments associated with the protectedsegments. However, these are merely examples of metadata associated withcatalog items that may be provided to a media device, and claimedsubject matter is not limited in this respect.

In one embodiment, application server 314 may provide a timeline profilefor a particular item in response to selection of a link at media device318 associated with a particular media content selection, at block 406of FIG. 5, for example. Alternatively, such a timeline profile for itemsin a catalog may be bundled with the catalog that is received at mediadevice 318. However, these are merely examples of how a media device mayreceive metadata associated with a catalog item and claimed subjectmatter is not limited in these respects.

In addition, such metadata in a timeline profile may characterize gatingsegments associated with the protected segments and may compriseapplication centric metadata and/or content centric metadata. Suchapplication centric metadata may include, for example, informationindicating where gating segments are placed in a temporal ordering ofmedia content segments in a timeline, information identifying specificgating content such as advertising media content, duration of particulargating segments in the timeline, to name just a few examples. In oneembodiment, such a timeline may identify gating content of a gatingsegment with information indicating where such gating content may beobtained. In one example, such information may comprise a handle and/oridentifier indicating a location in a memory where such gating contentis being stored. Alternatively, such information indicating where suchgating content may be obtained may comprise one or more URLs indicatingwhere such gating content may be accessed, for example. Also, such atimeline may specify a desired, set or predefined required duration foraccessing a particular gating segment to meet an access requirement atdiamond 208, for example.

Content centric metadata may comprise information that is associatedwith and/or descriptive of selected media content including, forexample, information indicative of a duration, plot summary, and/or thetype, character and/or genre of the selected media content (e.g., soapopera, pre-recorded sports broadcast, type of music selection,full-length feature titles, MPAA rating). However, these are merelyexamples of application centric metadata and content centric metadata,and claimed subject matter is not limited in these respects.

To obtain gating segments for accessing protected segments of atimeline, at block 408 a rendering application hosted on media device318 may call advertisement server 316 at block with information based,at least in part, on the aforementioned metadata characterizing thegating segments received in the timeline profile. Based upon informationin this call, advertisement server 316 may return gating segments to beassociated with protected segments in the timeline. As illustratedabove, by accessing these returned gating segments (e.g., renderingpresentations based, at least in part on the returned gating segments),a rendering application may provide a user with access to associatedprotected segments.

While advertisement server 316 may provide media content for gatingsegments according to particular embodiments, it should be understoodthat such media content for gating segments may originate from othersources such as, for example, application server 314.

In a particular embodiment, for example, a timeline profile may includeaddresses and/or URLs for links to stream content server 320. Selectingsuch a link at device 318 may result in receipt of a data stream fromstream content server comprising the protected segment associated withthe link. If a particular gating segment in a timeline profile has beenused to render a presentation to a user for meeting a requirement foraccessing an associate protected segment, for example, at block 410 therendering application may provide the user with access to an associatedprotected segment (e.g., for rendering a presentation) using theassociated address and/or URL to the stream content server 320.Accordingly, as illustrated above in connection with the particularembodiment of FIG. 3 at block 212, a rendering application may enable auser to access a protected segment by making available an address and/orURL on stream content server 320 associated with the protected segment.

As protected segments may be streamed from stream content server 320 tomedia device 318 in a particular embodiment, the application may buffera sufficient amount of the protected media segment at any one timerender an uninterrupted presentation. However, the application need notstore the entire protected segment on media device 318 and may discardand/or overwrite in memory any stored portions of the protected segmentfollowing a rendering of an associated portion. Accordingly, unintendedcopying and/or pirating of a streamed protected segment may beprevented.

It should be understood that protected segments in media content may beprovided to media device 318 in a form different from streamed filesfrom stream content server 320. For example, one or more protectedsegments may be provided in encrypted form as illustrated above. Also,in a particular embodiment “partitioning” media content, such as atomicand/or contiguous media content, may comprise a physical segmentation ofinformation associated with particular segments on, for example,segmented mediums or memory addresses and/or the like. However, such apartitioning of media content may also include a partitioning asdelivered, rendered for presentation and/or as experienced by a user.Here, for example, while stream content server 320 may store mediacontent contiguously as a stream file in a storage medium, the streameddelivery of such media content to media device 18 may be segmented intime to thereby partition the contiguously stored media content.Although the stream content server may contiguously store media content,a user at media device 318 may experience the stored content as beingpartitioned into segments.

As illustrated above with reference to block 408 according to aparticular embodiment, advertisement server 316 may provide to mediadevice 318 gating segments associated with protected segments in atimeline profile in response to a call from media device 318. As pointedout above, such a call may include metadata associated with gatingsegments in a timeline profile. It should be understood, however, thatadvertisement server 316 may use this metadata and/or other informationto select gating media to be associated with protected segments in atimeline profile such as, for example, time of day, day of week,calendar date and information in a user profile comprising user specificinformation associated with the user as described below geographiclocation of user, demographic information based, at least in part, on atleast one attribute of the user and/or the like. Here, such demographicinformation may include, for example, demographic information associatedwith the age, gender, income level, level of education of the user, justto provide a few examples.

Regarding information concerning the time of day, day or week and/orcalendar date, advertisement sever 316 may target advertisement believedto have a strong impact at these times. In one example, gating segmentsin evening hours may be used for advertising pizza delivery while gatingsegments in morning hours may be used for advertising breakfast cereal.In another example, gating segments in the second week of December maybe directed to holiday shopping while gating segments in the first weekof January may be targeted to products and services directed to healthand fitness. In yet another example, gating segments in Friday eveningmay be directed to wine, beer and spirits while gating segments inSunday morning may be directed to hangover remedies. However, these aremerely examples of how gating segments may be selected based, at leastin part, on a time and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect.

According to an embodiment, a call to advertisement server at block 408may provide information such as, for example, a source IP address and/orother information identifying a geographic location of media device 318.Using a source IP address, for example, advertisement server 316 maydetermine a geographic location of media device 318. However, this ismerely an example of how a server may determine a geographic location ofa media device and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect. Accordingly, in a particular embodiment, advertisement server316 may provide gating segments comprising advertisements for businesseslocal to media device 318.

According to an embodiment, a call to advertisement server 316 at block408 may provide information identifying a user. Such information maycomprise, for example, a user identifier that is associated with auser's user profile in a database maintained and/or accessible byadvertisement server 316. Advertisement server 316 may then selectgating segments to be associated with protected segments in a particulartimeline profile based, at least in part, on such a user profile. Here,such a database may associate the user identifier with a user profileincluding user specific information such as, for example, age, gender,income, geographic location, user preferences, tastes, past purchasingbehavior, past content viewing behavior that may be used for determininggating segments tailored to the user. Additionally, such user specificinformation may be associated with demographic information for selectingadvertisement tailored to one or more specific demographics associatedwith the user. Some information in such a database, such as past contentviewing behavior, may be collected from application server 314 using,for example, a web service to update the database in response to catalogselections. Other such information may be obtained from other sources.

According to an embodiment, a gating segment may comprise multipleportions of distinct content to be presented sequentially duringpresentation of the gating segment. For example, a primary contentportion of a gating segment specified in application centric metadatamay be supplemented with additional gating content that relates to theprimary portion. In one embodiment, while accessing and/or rendering agating segment, a rendering application may access and/or present theadditional gating content either before or after the primary portion. Inone particular example, a primary content portion may comprise gatingcontent that is to be accessed by a large general class of users, suchas nationwide users for example. The additional gating content, on theother hand, may be selected and/or tailored according to user specificinformation (e.g., information that is specific to a user accessing thegating segment and/or an associated protected segment). As illustratedabove, such user specific information may be retrieved from a userprofile in response to a call to advertisement server 316, for example.

In a particular example, although claimed subject matter is not limitedin this respect, a primary content portion of a gating segment maycomprise an advertisement for a product or service that is directed to anational audience and/or consumers nationwide. Additional gatingcontent, to be accessed and/or presented before or following accessand/or presentation of the primary portion, may comprise anadvertisement for a provider of the advertised product or service thatis local to the particular user accessing the gating segment comprisingthe primary content portion and additional gating content. In anotherembodiment, such additional gating content may comprise an advertisementfor a particular product and/or service offered by the nationwidesponsor, but tailored to specific tastes and/or preferences of the user.

In one particular embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in this respect, a primary content portion of a gating segmentmay be identified by one or more URLs in application centric metadata ofa timeline generated by application server 314, for example. Additionalgating content may then be identified as one or more additional URLs inthe application centric metadata. Accordingly, while accessing a gatingsegment, a rendering application hosted on media device 318 may accessthe primary content portion and additional content portion from callingadvertisement server 316 using associated URLs.

In one particular implementation, a timeline provide may compriseapplication centric metadata associated with and/or specifying a primarycontent portion of a gating segment to be accessed by users of anassociated media content segment generally. Application server 314 maythen determine application centric metadata associated with and/orspecifying a secondary content portion of the gating segment. In oneparticular example, application server 314 may determine such asecondary content portion in response to a selection of a particularmedia content segment at block 406, for example. In response to such anevent, application server 314 may determine such a secondary contentportion (e.g., as represented by a URL) based, at least in part, on anassociated primary content portion and/or information associated with auser making the selection, for example. In one particularimplementation, in response to a selection by a user, application server314 may access a user-specific information from a user profile asillustrated above. Application server 314 may then determine a secondarycontent portion of a gating segment based, at least in part, on anassociated primary content portion and/or user-specific informationaccessed from a user profile.

As pointed out about above with reference to process 200 in FIG. 3, auser may be required to access a gating segment for a set or predefinedrequired duration of time as a precondition for accessing an associatedprotected segment. In one particular embodiment, although claimedsubject matter is not limited in this respect, such set or predefinedrequired duration for accessing a gating segment may be varied based, atleast in part, on information available to application server 314. Aspointed out above, application centric metadata in a timeline profilemay comprise information specifying a duration of particular gatingsegments in an associated timeline. Here, upon generating applicationcentric metadata in a timeline profile, in response to a user selectionat block 406 for example, application server 314 may set or predefine arequired duration for accessing one or more gating segments (aspreconditions for accessing associated protected segments) based, atleast in part, on information accessible to application server 314.Accordingly, a user may be required to access an associated gatingsegment for the set or predefined duration at diamond 208 as aprecondition for accessing an associated protected segment at block 212.

In one embodiment, application server 314 may set or predefine avariable duration for accessing a gating segment based, at least inpart, on a geographical location of the user and/or media device 318.Here, for example, local laws may require certain advertising content,such as advertisements for certain pharmaceutical products, must bedisplayed for a minimum duration to allow the user to fully read and/orhear disclaimer information. In another example, application server 314may set or predefine a variable duration for accessing a gating segmentbased, at least in part, on a sponsor's willingness to pay for anadvertisement in the gating segment. Here, for example, a sponsor may bewilling to pay for a longer advertisement directed to users of oneprofile than for advertisement directed to users of a second profile.

In another example, application server 314 may set or predefine avariable duration for accessing a gating segment based, at least inpart, on a user's prepaid privilege to view protected segments withoutaccessing gating content or reduced gating content. Here, for example,application server 314 may allow such a pre-paying user to access aprotected segment without accessing an associated gating segment orallow the user to access the protected segment following accessinggating content for a shorter duration than required by non-paying users(e.g., zero seconds).

Referring to embodiments illustrated above with reference to FIGS. 2Athrough 2D and 3, a media player may automatically access a protectedsegment 102 following a predefined or set required duration foraccessing an associated gating segment 104. In another embodiment, apredefined or set required duration for accessing a gating segment maydetermine when a selectable icon allowing a user to “click to continue”appears in a GUI for the user (enabling the user to access an associatedprotected segment as illustrated above). If such a predefined or setrequired duration for accessing a gating segment is 30 seconds, forexample, a user may be required to access the gating segment for 30seconds before the selectable icon allowing a user to “click tocontinue” appears in a GUI. If such a predefined or set requiredduration for accessing a gating segment is zero seconds, for example,the selectable icon allowing a user to “click to continue” mayimmediately appear in a GUI upon accessing the gating segment.

As illustrated above with reference to FIG. 3, in the absence of aselection from a user such as, for example a cursor selection asillustrated above, process 200 may continue to render and/or presentgating content after expiration of a set or predefined requiredduration. According to an embodiment, application server 314 may furtherspecify in application centric metadata additional gating content thatmay be accessed following expiration of such a set or predefinedrequired duration, but prior to access of an associated protectedsegment. In a particular implementation, for example, such applicationcentric metadata may specific a first URL to be used in accessing gatingcontent as an initial portion of a gating segment (e.g., fromadvertisement server 316, for example) with a set or predefined requiredduration. Such application centric metadata may further specify one ormore additional URLs to be used in accessing additional gating contentupon expiration the set or predefined required duration for accessingthe initial portion under conditions illustrated above, for example.

Embodiments illustrated above relate to particular implementations of aserver in which application server 314 determines a desired, set orpredefined required duration for accessing a gating segment as aprecondition of accessing an associated protected segment. Inalternative embodiments, however, an application hosted on media device318 may determine such a desired, set or predefined required durationbased, at least in part, on information available to media device 318such as, for example, information associated with other localapplications hosted on media device 318. In one particularimplementation, application server 314 may provide a default desired,set or predefined required duration for accessing a gating segment inmetadata of a timeline transmitted to device 318 in response to acatalog selection, for example. Then, an application hosted on device318 may selectively override such a required duration based, at least inpart, on information local to device 318, for example.

According to an embodiment, although claimed subject matter is notlimited in these respects, advertisement server 316 may provide gatingsegments that are interactive with particular users. For example, inaddition to merely rendering a presentation based, at least in part, ona gating segment, a user may be required to “click through” documents(e.g., HTML documents) to gain access to an associated protected segment(e.g., at diamond 208 of FIG. 3). Such an interactive gating segment mayinclude links to a sponsor's website providing additional informationand/or enabling a user to purchase a good or service from the sponsor.In other embodiments, advertisement server 316 may collect fees and/orrevenue from sponsors based, at least in part, on a number ofselections, “clicks”, website visitations, and/or the like.

According to particular embodiments, application server 314 andadvertisement server 316 may be owned and operated by the same entity.In alternative embodiments, advertisement server 316 may be owned andoperated by an entity different from the entity that owns and operatesapplication server 314. In this particular embodiment, an entity owningand operating advertisement server 316 may pay fees to the entity owningand operating application server 314 for the placement of gatingsegments in content to be accessed by user subscribers. The entityowning and operating advertisement server 316 may then in turn receive afee from sponsors whose goods and/or services may be advertised ingating segments provided by advertisement server 316.

In another embodiment, although claimed subject matter is not limited inthis respect, application server 314 and stream content server 320 maybe owned and operated by different entities. Also, content stored anddistributed by stream content server 320 may be subject to copyrightsowned by yet another entity. Accordingly, a media content distributorowning and operating application server 314 may contract with an entitythat owns and operates stream content server 320 to provide streamcontent to users for a fee. Also, or in the alternative, such a fee maybe paid to an entity owning copyrights to the media content that isbeing distributed through stream content server 320, if that is adifferent entity from the entity that owns and operates stream contentserver 320. Here, such a fee paid to the owner and operator of streamcontent server 320 may comprise a flat rate fee (e.g., over a daily,weekly or monthly period) or a fee paid per catalog item selected andaccessed through media device 318 or other such media devices (notshown). In turn, as illustrated above, an entity owning and/or operatingapplication server 316 may collect a fee from advertisement server 316for the placement of advertisements in gating segments.

In particular embodiments illustrated above, a rendering application mayrequire a user to receive a presentation of or otherwise access a gatingsegment before permitting the user to access an associated protectedsegment. According to particular embodiments of systems shown in FIGS. 1and 3, a user may obtain access to media content through a renderingapplication as part of a subscription service. In addition, such systemsmay distinguish among premium subscribers and non-premium subscribers.Buy paying a fee, for example, a premium subscriber may be able toaccess protected segments in media content without being required tofirst access associated gating segments. In the particular embodiment ofsystem 300, for example, such a premium subscriber may receive mediacontent from stream content server 320 without having to viewpresentations rendered from gating segments (e.g., provided byadvertisement server 316). Here, application server 314 may recognize auser as a premium user at block 404 when a user contacts applicationserver 314 to launch a rendering application by, for example, a useridentifier associated with the user or other information provided in anauthentication process (not shown). The launched rendering applicationmay then be adapted to enable the premium subscriber to access protectedsegments, through stream content server 320 for example, without firstaccessing associated gating segments.

Particular embodiments described above may be applicable to systemswhere a media device, comprising a computing platform for example, isconnected to one or more servers to receive media content according tothe aforementioned Internet Protocol. Here, for example, such a mediadevice may transmit information to and/or receive information, includingmedia content for instance, from one or more servers via a broadbandconnection and/or an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that supportscommunication according to the aforementioned HTTP protocol.

It should be understood, however, that other embodiments may be directedto distributing media content to media devices through differentconnections and communication protocols such as, for example, broadcastcable, broadcast satellite and/or communication protocols adapted forwireless links. Here, for example, a media device comprising a set-topbox may be connected to one or more output devices (e.g., television,home theatre/audio system and/or the like) to render a presentationbased, at least in part, on media content received from a broadcastconnection. A rendering application may be hosted on the set-top box tocontrol access to protected segments of media content based, at least inpart, on previous access to associated gating segments as illustratedabove. In a particular embodiment, although claimed subject matter isnot limited in this respect, such a rendering application may provide adisplay on an output device (e.g., television) as part of a GUI thatresponds to controls from a set-top box remote control, for example.

While there has been illustrated and described what are presentlyconsidered to be example embodiments, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various other modifications may be made, andequivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimed subjectmatter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it isintended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particularembodiments disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter may alsoinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims,and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for use by a computing platform having aprocessor and a memory, the method comprising: providing, using theprocessor, one or more protected segments of a media content from thememory; and selectively providing access to at least a portion of saidone or more protected segments in response to an access by a user to agating segment for a duration; and setting said duration in response toa selection by said user to access said media content segment, whereinsaid duration is set based on information identifying said user as apaying user.
 2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:selectively providing access to an additional one of said protectedsegments in response to an access of an additional gating segment. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein said protected segments are included in acontiguous media content segment.
 4. The method of claim 1, and furthercomprising enabling said user to initiate presentation of said portionfollowing said access of said gating segment for said duration.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, and further comprising continuing presentation ofsaid gating segment following said duration and until selection by saiduser to initiate said presentation of said portion.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, and further comprising automatically rendering a presentationof said portion in response to expiration of said access of said gatingsegment for said duration.
 7. An apparatus comprising: a computingplatform having a processor and a memory, said processor being adaptedto: provide one or more protected segments of a media content from saidmemory; and selectively provide access to at least a portion of said oneor more protected segments in response to an access by a user to agating segment for a duration; and set said duration in response to aselection by said user to access said media content segment, whereinsaid duration is set based on information identifying said user as apaying user.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said computingplatform is further adapted to: selectively provide access to anadditional one of said protected segments in response to an access of anadditional gating segment.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein saidprotected segments are included in a contiguous media content segment.10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said computing platform is furtheradapted to: enable said user to initiate presentation of said portionfollowing said access of said gating segment for said duration.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein said computing platform is furtheradapted to: continue presentation of said gating segment following saidduration and until selection by said user to initiate said presentationof said portion.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said computingplatform is further adapted to: automatically render a presentation ofsaid portion in response to expiration of said access of said gatingsegment for said duration.
 13. An article comprising: a non-transitorystorage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereonwhich, if executed on a computing platform, are adapted to cause saidcomputing platform to: provide one or more protected segments of a mediacontent; and selectively provide access to at least a portion of saidone or more protected segments in response to an access by a user to agating segment for a duration; and set said duration in response to aselection by said user to access said media content segment, whereinsaid duration is set based on information identifying said user as apaying user.
 14. The article of claim 13, wherein said computingplatform is further adapted to: selectively provide access to anadditional one of said protected segments in response to an access of anadditional gating segment.
 15. The article of claim 14, wherein saidprotected segments are included in a contiguous media content segment.16. The article of claim 13, wherein said computing platform is furtheradapted to: enable said user to initiate presentation of said portionfollowing said access of said gating segment for said duration.
 17. Thearticle of claim 16, wherein said computing platform is further adaptedto: continue presentation of said gating segment following said durationand until selection by said user to initiate said presentation of saidportion.